Ozark board names new baseball facility 'Mike Esseck Field'

The Ozark R‑VI Board unanimously approved naming the district’s new baseball field 'Mike Esseck Field' after considering two finalists and community input.

The naming committee presented two top choices and reported community conversations and a student participant’s input. Committee members emphasized the difficulty of choosing between two respected local figures and recommended Mike Esseck as their top choice to tie the program’s history to its future.

Board members described the selection process and noted both finalists’ long contributions to Ozark baseball. "When you truly think of Ozark baseball, the first person that always comes to mind is coach Esseck," a committee member said. The board voted to approve the recommendation unanimously.

Next steps: District staff thanked community members and the committee and will move forward with signage and dedication planning.